By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Marko Simonovic scored a season-high 20 points to lead Bahcesehir past Cedevita Olimpija 85 – 81 in a knockout game for the EuroCup quarterfinals after a comeback from down 19 in the first half.
Bahcesehir made the EuroCup semifinals for the first time in club history by remaining undefeated at home this season in the competiton after 10 games.
“I’m really happy and proud of this team, these guys and the people watching this team, “Simonovic said. “This is a team win. We played good as a team. In one game it’s me, in another game it’s some other player.”
Simonovic also drained a key pair of free throws for the 83 – 77 with 21 seconds to play. Bahcesehir had made a 14-0 run in the fourth period to turn a 61 – 69 deficit into a 75 – 69 lead with four minutes to play.
Cedevita approached 76 – 73 but Jaleen Smith made a triple and the Turkish side remained beyond a shooting distance for the last two minutes.
Tyler Cavanaugh added 14 points and six rebounds for Bahcesehir. Furkan Korkmaz scored 10 and Smith dished out seven assists to go with his seven points.
Danilo Tasic led Cedevita with 14 points. Devante Jones scored 12, Devin Robinson had 11 points plus five rebounds and Stewart dropped 11 points for the Slovenian team that was up 11 – 30 early in the second period but couldn’t capitalize on that big lead down the stretch.
Photo: EuroCup Basketball